Switch-control gear



Au 13, 1929. I c. l. VERMILYE 1,724,119

SWITCH CONTROL GEAR Filed Nov. 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mam I y !I "f 3 Z O 4 V 1: 1a "-4'.

All 2 10 10 I! Z/ 20 f I I I I Qvwwntoz Claude Ilrmil e 1k flame/13A Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE I. VERMILYE, OF FLUSHING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO METROPOLITAN ELEC- TRIC MFG. 00., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SWITCH-CONTROL GEAR.

Application filed November 29, 1926. Serial No. 151,346.

The controlling of groups of electric lights by means of switches is as old as the art of lighting by electricity, but, with the elaborate development of electric lighting, particularly in theatresand similar public places, necessity has arisen for more convenient means for control of the switches in the light circuits, in order that rapid, accurate, switching operations may be performed for the production of elaborate lighting effects on the stage or auditorium in which the lights are located. In many cases, lights of various colors are used in groups at various points, as on'a stage, and it is necessary that these groups of lights, or in some cases even single lights, be turned on and off in succession as the performance, which they illuminate, progresses and that they be turned on and off in successive diversified combinations in order to produce various light effects. At first this was done by manipulation of the independent switches by a group of operators, which was for a time adequate. As the number of lights and circuits increased, however, and with them the complexity of the requirements, such hand switching was found unsatisfactory, and attempts were made to construct switching gear which could be manipulated entirely by a single operator. Difficulty has however been experienced in designing gear to meet the requirements in a satisfactory manner.

The device of my invention provides switches and a switch gear adapted to control them by the manipulation of a master handle, through the agency of adjustable interlocks between the master handle and the switch levers, so that any desired combination or sequence of combinations of closing or opening may be produced. My invention further provides means whereby the switch gear may be set for a certain switch com bination, to produce a given light effect, positioning some of the switches closed, and if desired, others opened, and additional means whereby the next switch combination may be preset upon an interlocking device, such that movements of the master handle will open desired switches, close other desired switches, and leave still others either open or closed, as desired.

My invention further provides means for ad uSting the sequence of opening and closing, or of closing and opening, under the movements of the master handle so that it is possible to open certain switches and then close others by the master handle or to close some and thereafter open others.

My, invention further provides means whereby under certain conditions several successive combinations maybe set up, in such way that successive movements of the master handle will provide several successive preset combinations;

My invention further provides a simple, rugged, durable, inexpensive switch interlock system, which is especially well adapted for stage light control, and is likewise adapted to many other purposes where adjustably preset switching combinations are desirable, and where it is desired that no interference shall occur with the normal manual operation of the switches by the usual levers.

Other objects and structural details of my invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section and partly diagrammatic of the same embodiment;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a face view of the cam forming a part of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a View in vertical section of the same cam;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the same cam, and

Fig. 7 is a view in horizontal section of the latch pin member of my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a mounting panel 1 which may be of slate, wood, marble, or other suitable material, or which alternatively may be replaced by any convenient supporting member, such as an angle iron frame, since it supports no cur-' rent carrying parts but provides only mechanical support, and appearance. Upon the front of the panel 1, I provide a pair of journal bearings 2 and 3, which support a shaft 4. Upon the shaft positioned a master handle 5, which is attached to the shaft a and adapted to cause rotation there of upon actuation by an operator. Upon the shaft 4 is also fastened a limit cam 6, which cooperates with a stop 7 upon the journal member 3, as shown in 3. This limit cam serves to restrain the motion of the handle 5 and shaft 4 to a suitable an gular amount.

Upon the shaft 1- are further positioned a plurality of switch lever members S. These switch lever members are journaled freely upon the shaft 4 so that they may revolve easily thereon. They are provided at their upper ends with handles 9 and at their lower ends with connecting members I lar switches are mountedlupon the sub-panel in corresponding, positions with respect to.

the various switch levers 8, and the switches are electrically connected between electric supply mains and. the desired groups of v lights. The switches'are thusmechanically controlled by the switch leverv members 8 and 9 and move in accordance therewith, to light or extinguish theconnected groups of.

lamps. I

The; switch lever members 8 are eachp'rovided with a slot extending at right anglesmember 21, which is attached to the shaftj l. This cam is shown in detail in Figs. 4., 5 and 6. It has .in general a fan-shape as indi cated, with. a shaft hole 22 at-the bottom, which is adapted to cooperate with the shaft 1 and to permit of firm attachment of the cam thereto by a set screw, pin, or other convenient means.

The cam has a series of connected arc-. shaped channels formed in one ofits faces. This channel may be considered as being formed by the intersection and cooperation formed concentrically with the axis of the shaft t at the outer edge of the cam, and the third '25 may be considered as formed concentrically with the shaft at a position nearer the axis of the shaft 4.

The switch lever member 8 further has, integral therewith, an arm member 26, best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, extending forward therefrom. This arm is desirably upon the left side of the slot in the member 8. The right side of the member 8 is provided with a further slot 27, having an arcuate form in a position to cooperate with the face of the cam 21.

Upon the arm 26 is positioned a. secondary lever 29, most advantageously shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7. The lever 29 is pivotally mounted upon a stud bearing 31 by means of a pin 32 as shown in Fig. 7 The stud member 31 is provided with a collar portion 38 and a pivot pin 34 by means of which it is also pivotally mounted in a bearing near the end of the arm 26. A washer 35 and nut 36 are provided for holding the stud member 31 in place. Spring actuated detent members 37 are provided for indexing the position of the stud member 31 so that it will tend to remain at a given position, and will tend to stop at successive-index points.

Upon the front edge of the arm 26 is mounted a dial plate 30 marked with words indicating the various positions of the lever 29; the 'words, Lock, Off, On, and Ind. for independent, being used. A pointer member is attached to the lever 29 and is adapted tomove over the plate 30 according to the movements of the lever, thereby indicating the position of the lever 29 and the action whichwill. be obtained from the associated switchlever upon actuation of the master handle.

, The forward end of the lever 29 is provided with a convenient handle 38 for actuation by an operator. The rear end is provided with a latch pin 39 which is adapted to enter through the arcuate slot 27 and cooperate with the face of the cam 21. The lever will swing around the pivot 8 -1, and the pin 39 will accordingly travel in the slot 27. The slot 27 is positioned in the handle frame 8 in such a way that with the pin 39 at the extreme top it will clear the cam 21. The lever 29 may then be held in this position A by the indexing means 37. Vihen so positioned the master handle 5, the shaft 1, and cam 21 are disconnected and free from the switch lever 8. The individual levers 8 may then be actuated by the handles 9 as desired without interference from. other portions of the switch gearand the desired groups of lamps lighted or extinguished.

The lever 29 may be adjusted in three other positions. Moving the handle memher 38 upward and the pin 39 downward by one step of the indexing detents, brings the pin 39 into engagement with the cam 21. If the switch handle and master handle are in corresponding positions, the pin 39 assumes the position B as shown in Fig. t. and the master lever may then be moved to the off position without interference with the switch member, the cam 21 moving relatively tothe pin .39. to. bring the rear end of the upper slot adjacent. the-pin 39 as shown atB'. If the switch is ofiand the master handle on, the-lever '29;ca'nnot be moved directly into its second position because ofthe fa'ctthat it strikes the edge of a land ofthe. cam- 21. It can, however, :be swung around the pivot 32 and the pin 39 withdrawn from the. engagement with theface] spect to the master lever 5. vIf the switch be carried under the pin 39' until the 'rela tive position changes from that indicated by B'to that indicated by B. The lever 29 is then returned-toits original :position by the pressure of spring 41 and the latch pin 39 engages with the slot 24 in the cam'2l.

The pin 39 in position B is then engaged; by the land of the cam 21 and uponreturn. ofthe master lever. 5-.to-the on position, the I pin 39, and with it thewhole switch structure including the lever 8 is carried to the on position, and the switch 14 thereby closed.

derthe latch tion B5. If desired,

pin 39, to bring it to posi to that previously described but of a reverse sequence. master lever are in corresponding positions.

(both on or both oif), the lever 29 and-the 'pin 30 are freely movable from'the second to the third position, indicatedas Ca- If both are in the open position, the switch levers to position two with the pins 39 restmay thereafter be freely closed without movement of the master'leverv 5 and shaft 4. iI-f both are in the closed position, movement-'- ofthemaster'lever 5 will bring the land ofthe cam against the pin 39 and carryit'and its supporting mechanism to the open position, thereby opening the'switch. If the -i switch is in the open position and the master lever in the on position, direct movement of I the pin 39 from the first to the third position is prevented'by the land of the cam. As before, however, the pin 39 may be swung outward, pivotingupon the pin 32,

' to disengage it from the face of the cam, and

the pin will then pass radially from the first to the third position or from the second to thezthird; position (since in the second position' it:may bersupported by the land): In*

If the switch "lever and 'thei the 'third position the switch lever 8 will be. carried from the on position to the off position by movement of the master lever but will not be closed by it, this being the reverse of the sequence of operations in the second position;

A fourth position is also provided in which the lever 8 is locked to the master lever through the cam and shaft, so that it .follows all movements of the master lever. As before, if the master handle and the switch handle are in corresponding positions, the lever 29 and the attached pin 39 is radially moved from any of the previous positions to the fourth position, indicated at D,.thereby locking the lever 8 to the master handle 5. As before, if the switch lever S and the master handle 5 are not in the same position, the lever 29'may be swung to withdraw the pin 39from theram slots, after. which it may be swung to position t at D or D with the pin'39 engaging with the landof the cam.. Upon movement of the master handle-to a position corresponding to thatof the switch handleS, the pin 39 will then drop: into place in the cam slots, and thereby lock the switch lever to the master lever. i

In the operation of my device it may be convenient to set all 'of the switch handles to the off position. lVith the master lever likewise in the off 7 position, 'the locking levers on the switches, which it is desired shallbe closed for the first light combination, may be moved to position two, that is, the on position. Upon movement of the y Y i I masterahandle to the "on position, these the lever 29 may be-moved .toa third position engaging withithesecondu slot in the cam 21. The :process is similar ing'on the lands of the cams. Movement of the masterlever from the on to the off positionwill then open'the'desired switches and allowthe locking levers and pins to drop into the camslots and thereafter be carried to the closed position by movement of the master lever to the on position. The third combination may then be set by suitable movements of the locking levers.

In some instances, it is possible to set more than'one successive combination at the beginning. If -fthe second combination involves only the removal of lights, while the third combination involves only the addition of lights, the combinations may be set up as before, the second combination obtained by-the ofi' movement of the master plexity of the requirements of the successive combinations.

It is to be noted also that the device of my invention is particularly advantageous for rapid determination of the conditions, both of the switches and of the locking levers. A quick glance by the operator will show which switches are on and which are off, by the position of the respective switch. levers. Likewise, a quick glance will show by the position of the handles 38 of the loek ing W if any, movements will b obtained on the respective switches by movement of the master handle, and the combinations a re accordingly very conveniently and" easily prepared and show vconveniently whether they are or are not properlyprev pared. By my invention larly designed and adapted for the: control of theatre stage lights but it is likewise: very well adapted to many other purposes which will be obviousto-those skilled. in the art.

While I have shown but a single emhodi--:

ment of my invention in the accompanying drawings and description, it-is capable of various modifications therefrom without de-.. parting from the spirit thereofand I de-- sire thereforethat only such limitations shall: be imposed thereon as: are required by the prior art or indicated by the appended claims.v

I claimas my invention:

1. A switch gear comprising a; master" handle, a plurality of switchzleversn. a shafts therebetween, switches attached thereto and a slotted cam having four "position-sectors thereon, a swinging lever mountedi upon said? switch lever, and having apim on an end: thereof adaptedto cooperate with said switch lever and said cam for' enga'gement with one of the sectors thereon;

2. A switch gear comprising a master handle, a plurality of switch levers, a shaft therebetween, switches attached thereto and a slot-ted cam having four POSltlOIbSQC- tors thereon, a swinging; lever mountediuporr said switch lever, and having apin on an" end thereof adapted, to. cooperate with said switch lever and said cam for engagement I have. produced a ru-g. ged, durable, simple, convenient and--fleXib'l'e-- switch control for the preset production of given switch combinations.- It is particle with one of the sectors thereon, and means comprising a pivotal connection between said swinging lever and said switch lever whereby said pin may be withdrawn from engagement with said cam.

3. A switch control gear comprising a master handle, a shaft attached thereto, journal bearings" therefor, a supporting means for said journals, a plurality of'switch levers freely mounted upon said shaft, a plurality of sector cams attached to said shaft and cooperating with said levers, a plural-- ity of latch meansattached tosaid levers: and co-operating' with said cam sectors, and a shaft stop means for restraining the movement of said cams from an extent beyond the limit of the sectors thereof, comprising" an angle member attached to said shaft, and a bar member attached to one of said journal bearings. 1

4. A switch. control gear comprising a master handle, a plurality-of switch levers, means comprising face cams and swinging latch levers for operating said switch lovers in a predetermined fashion by the" move mentsof saidvmaster lever and indicating means showing the position of said latch means: and therebyi: indicating the 1 char-ace ter of movement '"'obtainable' 'in response to a movement of the -master handle; i

5. A switch: control gear comprising a master handle; a shaft attached-thereto, a plurality of switch levers independently positioned thereon, and" having slots therein, a plurality of facecams. attached to saidshaft andpositioned in the. slotshrsai'd handles whereby movement along thelength of said shaft? is prevented-,5 and means com- 1 prising pivotedi 'latchlevers cooperating between said switch levers and said cams 6: A switch gear-comprising a; master handle, secondary switch handles, a shaft-- therebetween, switches attached:- thereto and a slotted cam having four position-sectors thereon, a I swinging lever mounted upon said 7 switch lever, and'lhaving a pin on an end thereof adapted to cooperate with' said switclilever and said'.cam for en'gagement with one of i the sectors thereon and detentmeans cooperating between said switch lever and said swinginglever forindexing the positions of said swiiigzingrlever'and saidpin a with respect to said cam; 7

'Z. A' switch control gear comprising a" shaft, a cam mounted thereon, said cam: having limiting means disposed on a lateral face thereof, a switch frame rotatable on said shaft, a hand lever pivoted on said switch frame, and means carried by said lever and movable thereby into and out of engage ment with said limiting means;

8. Av switch control gearcomprisi'ng a shaft,.a cam mounted thereon,- said cam having; limiting'means disposed-on a lateral face I thereof,, .a switch; frame:- rotatable i i on sai'd shaft, a hand lever pivoted on said switch frame, and means carried by said lever and movable thereby in a direction transverse to the plane of the cam face into and out of engagement with said limiting means.

9. A switch control gear comprising a shaft, a cam mounted thereon, said cam having limiting means disposed on a lateral face thereof, a switch frame rotatable on said shaft, a hand lever pivoted on said switch frame, and means carried by said lever and movable thereby in a direction substantially radial to said cam, into and out of engagement with said limiting means.

10. A switch control gear comprising a shaft, a cam mounted thereon, said cam having limiting means disposed on a lateral face thereof, a switch frame rotatable on said shaft, a hand lever pivoted on said switch frame, and means carried by said lever and movable thereby in a direction transverse to the plane of the cam face and in a direction substantially radial to said cam.

11. A switch control gear comprising a shaft, a cam carried thereby and having at least three abutments extending in a substantially radial direction, a switch frame rotatable on said shaft and means carried by said frame and movable into and out of engagement with each of said abutments.

12. A switch control gear comprising a, shaft and a plurality of switch frames rotatable thereon, a separate switch connected to each of said frames and operable thereby, means for operating said shaft, means for locking and unlocking each of said switch frames to and from said shaft and means interchangeable with said locking and unlocking means whereby the operation of said shaft in one direction causes any one or more of the switch frames to open its switch and the operation of said shaft in the opposite direction does not move the switch frame.

13. A switch control gear comprising a shaft and a plurality of switch frames rotatable thereon, a separate switch connected to each of said frames and operable thereby, means for operating said shaft, means for locking and unlocking each of said switch frames to and from said shaft and means interchangeable with said locking and unlocking means whereby the operation of said shaft in one direction causes any one or more of the switch frames to close its switch and the operation of said shaft in the opposite direction does not move the switch frame.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

CLAUDE I. VERMILYE. 

